Flush tank fixture



June 21, 1932. A. A. BRIGGS FLUSH TANK FIXTURE Filed Feb. 4, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 5 4 mfi WA MM m n A R OA m w s w? 2 a v mm ATTORNEYE June21, 1932. A. A. BRIGGS 1,863,589

FLUSH TANK FIXTURE Filed Feb. 4, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fl/Irev/A. 5/7275 ATTORNEYS Patented June 21, 1932 Fries ALFRED A. BRIGGS, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSIAH A. BRIGGS,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLUSH TANK FIXTURE Application filed. February 4, 1931. Serial No.513,267.

This invention relates to flush tank fixtures and particularly to valvemechanism and controlling mechanism for initiating the flow of ordischarge of water from the tank.

Qne of the objects of the invention is toprovide a tank fixture of thecharacter described that is simple in construction, comprises tew parts,and may be economically manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a fixture that ispositive and quiet in operation and in which the parts are soconstructed and arranged that they will not be thrown out of adjustmentin use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction that isrugged and will operate efiectively and quietly without the use ofpackings, washers or similar devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flush tank fixture soconstructed and arranged that successive discharges from the tank willbe obtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flush tank fixture whichwill operate automatically and intermittently.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification taken in connection with the drawings, which form a partof this application, and in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of atank having a fixture therein constructed in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1 takensubstantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a )art of the float shown in Fig. 1,on a somew at enlarged scale;

Fig. 4. a top plan of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of one of the valve mechanisms takensubstantially on line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the other valve mechanismtakensubstantially on line' 66 of Fig. 2.

The invention briefly described consists of a flush tank fixturecomprising a ii-shaped fiush or outlet pipe, one leg of the Ushaped pipeextending downwardly into the tank and receiving water therefrom and theother leg extending downwardly through thebottom of the tank. A valvecasing communicates with-the inlet leg of the pipe and when the valve inthe casing is opened, water from the pressure main is injected into theinlet leg and initiates the flow oi'water through the flush pipe. Thewater under pressure forces the air and Water around the bend of theU-shaped flush pipe and sets in operation the siphon action, whereby thetank will be emptied. 1n the form of the invention illustrated, the flowof water through the valve chamber into the flush pipe and also the flowinto the tank to replenish the tank are valve controlled. The floatwhich controls the main inlet valve may be constructed for automaticoperation.

Further details of the invention will appear from the followingdescription.

The invention illustrated and to be described in this applicationconstitutes a sin1- plification of and an improvement on the inventioncovered by Patents Nos. 1,519,188 to Alfred A. Briggs, granted December16, 192% and 1,769,6 1? issued to Alfred A. Briggs and Josiah A. Briggs,July 1, 1930.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, there isshown-a flush tank 10 having secured thereto a U-shaped siphon or flushpipe having its inlet leg 11 extending downwardly to a position adjacentthe bottom of the tank and having its outlet leg 12 extending throughthe bottom of the tank about four inches to form an air chamber betweenthe bowl and the bottom of the tank. The lower end of the outlet leg 12dis charges into a pipe 9 secured to the bottom of the tank andsurrounding and spaced from the end of pipe 12. As shown in Fig. 1, the

inlet leg 11 is slightly larger in cross section than the outlet leg 12.

The inlet leg 11 of the flush pipe is interrupted, as shown at 13, andan annular cas ing 14 is secured to this portion of the leg 11. T hecasing 14: has an annular chamber 15 surrounding the leg 11 and has aconical wall 16 disposed above the conical upper end 17 of the-lowerportion of the leg 11. The casing 14 is connected, as shown at 18, tothe upper portion 11A of the inlet leg 11 and the lower portion of theinlet leg is adj ustably threaded, as shown at 19, to the casing. A locknut 20 secures the lower portion of the leg 11 in adjusted position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a conical opening isformed between the upper end 17 of the lower portion of the inlet legand the portion 16 of the inner wall of the casing.

A pipe 26 is connected at one end to the casing 14 and at its oppositeend to a T-shaped coupling 27 which communicates at one end with a valvecasing 28 having upper and lower chambers 29 and 36. The upper chamber29 of the valve casing 28 receives water from a pressure main 31 which,as shown at 32, extends downwardly through the bottom of the tank. Theother end of coupling 2? communicates with a valve controlled water pipe95 for refilling the tank, hereinafter described.

A valve port 38 establishes communication between the chambers 29 and 30and the flow of liquid through this port is controlled by a valve 40which is adapted to seat on the port 38.

Valve 40 has connected thereto a valve stem 41 having an enlargedportion 42 slid-ably mounted in a tubular extension 43 which projectsdownwardly from the valve casing 28. The enlarged portion 4:2 of thevalve stem has a slot 45 therethrough and the tubular extension 43 isslotted to permit the passage therethrough and through the slot 45 of avalve control lever 50. The lever is pivoted at 51 on lugs carried bythe tubular extension 43 and has a circular portion 52 disposed in theslot 45 of the enlarged portion of the valve stem.

The lower end of the tubular extension 43 is closed by a plug 55 and theportion of the valve stem below the slot 45 has formed therein a conduithaving a.v downwardly extending portion 56 and a laterally extendingportion 57, as shown in Fig. 5. 56 extends above 57 to form an airpocket in which air is compressed, which takes care of the lastone-sixteenth inch of valve travel. The portion 57 of the conduit is solocated that when the valve is opened by the lever and the valve stem isdisposed in its uppermost position, the outer end of the portion 57 ofthe conduit will communicate with the slot or opening in the extension43, through which the lever 56 passes, as shown in dotted lines, (Fig.5).

A conduit 39 communicates at one end with the chamber 30 in the valvecasing and at its opposite end, after the lower end of the enlargedportion of the valve stem has started its upward movement, with thelower end of the tubular extension.

One end of the lever has formed therein a vertical slot 67 through whichextends a link 68 having adjustably mounted on its lower maintains thevalve 40 on its seat.

end below the lever, a nut 69. The upper end of the link 68 is connectedto a crank 70 mounted on a spindle 71 journaled in a wall of the tankand extending therethrough.

The outer end of the spindle 71 has secured thereto av handle 75, bymeans of which the crank and spindle can be rotated in either directionto lift the lever 50 and open the valve 40.

The parts thus far described are the same as those shown in Patent No.1,769,617.

53 is a vertical guide rod on which a sleeve 54 is slidably mounted andto which the end of lever 56 is connected by a slot and pin arrangement.A float is provided which comprises a cylindrical. casin 58 having across-disc 59 which is affixed to sleeve 54. These parts form aninverted cup-like air chamber 61. 62 is a cylindrical cup fitted withinthe casing 58 and having av bottom 63 which rests on the disc 59. 64 isa siphon, the inlet end of which is near the bottom 63. Its outlet leg65 passes through the bottom 63 and through an arcuate slot indisc 59and to a point at or near the lower end of the easing 58.

is a chamber connected by a port 81 with chamber 30 and controlled by avalve 82. The latter has a stem 83 slidably mounted in'a boss 84 at oneend of coupling 27. 85 is a lever pivoted at 86, raving a circularportion 87 in a slot in valve stem 83 and with its end con nected by aslot and pin arrangement with sleeve 88 slidably mounted on a verticalrod 89. 90 is a float of comparatively small size which comprises anopen ended cylindrical casing 91 with a cross-disc 92 intermediate itsends. 93 is a siphon passing from a point near the disc 92 through thedisc to a point at or near the lower end of casing 91. 94 is anadjustable stop in the path of movement of lever 85 to limit the upwardtravel of float 90 to a point with its upper edge below the water levelA, B shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, when valve 84 is depressed to openport 81.

lVhenthe water rises in tank 10, under conditions to be describedpresently, air entrapped under disc 92 will cause float 90 to rise untilits movement is arrested by stop 94. Shortly thereafter the upper partof float 90 will fill with water and the float 90 will descend to itsposition shown in full lines in Fig. 6 to raise valve 84 to close port81.

The float 60 is maintained in the position shown in Fig.1 by'the air inchamber 61, with the upper cup 62 slightly above the upper water levelA, B. In this position it This valve may be opened by turning the handle75 to rock the lever 50. However, the initial movement of lever 50brings the upper edge of cup 62 below the water level so that the cupfills and causes the movement of lever to be completed, if this is notaccomplished manually. a The water from the pressure main 81 Will thusbe permitted to flow from the chamber 29 into the chamber 30 of thevalve casing. The water then flows through the coupling 27 and pipe 26,into the chamber 15 surrounding the inlet leg of the U-shaped flushpipe.

The pressure of the water will direct a conical stream into the inletleg through the conical opening between the surfaces 16 and 17, and thisstream will positively lift the water in the upper end 11A of theU-shaped connecting coupling between the legs 11 and 12. This column ofwater will force before it any air in the U-shaped flush pipe and willcompletely fill the outlet leg, due to the difference in diameterbetween the inlet and outlet legs of the flush pipe..

When the Water in tank 10 getsbelow the discharge legs of siphons 64 and93, the water in the upper parts of floats and 90 will be dischargedthrough them. Then as water is supplied to tank 10, first through theleg 11 of the main siphon, both floats will rise. It is not desirable tohave all of the tank water supplied through theconical spray openingbetween the surfaces 16 and 17 as this would initiate an undesired.siphon discharge through the flush pipe 11, 12, and so the float 90 isarranged to open valve 84 to provide another path for water to the tankthrough port 81 and discharge pipe 95.

WVhen it is desired to effect automatic intermittent actuation, the cup62 of float 60 is rotated to bring an orifice 95 in its Wall, in alinement with an orifice 96 in the Wall of cylinder 58. Vhen the water lineAB rises above these orifices, water will leak into the cup gradually.As it rises therein, air will be entrapped in an inverted cup 97 fromthe center of which depends a valve 98 which closes a port 99 throughthe bottom 63 of cup 62. After a predetermined time this will cause cup97 and valve 98 to rise, thus quickly permitting the escape of the airwhich is entrapped in cylinder 58 under its disc 59. Float 60 will thensink to open valve 40 and this will effect the flush and refilloperations previously described.

The specific embodiment of the invention herein shown and described isfor illustrative purposes and I intend no limitations other than thoseimposed by the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a flush tank fixture, a tank, a U- shaped outlet pipe having aninlet leg extending to a position adjacent the bottom of the tank and anoutlet leg extending through the botom of the tank, a pressure mainadapted to supply waterto said outlet pipe and to the tank, a valvearranged to control the water supply, a float arranged to control thevalve, said float comprising an open ended cylinder, a subdividing discintermediate the ends thereof, the upper edge of said cylinder beingslightly above the upper water level in the tank, manual means fordepressing the float to initiate the opening of the valve and to causethe float to sink, and means for permitting the water to escapegradually from the upper part of said cylinder to restore the buoyancyof the float. V 2. In combination with the valve of a flush tankfixture, a float comprising an open ended cylinder, a subdividing discintermediate the ends thereof, the upper edge of said cylinder beingslightly above the upper water level main adapted to supply water tosaid outlet 9 pipe and to the tank, a valve arranged to'control thewater supply, a float arranged to control the valve, said floatcomprising an open ended cylinder, a subdividing disc intermediate theends thereof, and means for admitting water gradually to the part abovesaid'disc to cause said float to sink.

4. In a flush tank fixture, a tank, a U-shaped outlet pipe having aninlet leg extending to a position adjacent the bottom of the tank and anoutlet leg extending through the bottom of the tank, a pressure mainadapted to supply water to said outlet pipe and to the tank, a valvearranged to control the water supply, a float arranged to control thevalve, said float comprising an open ended cylinder, a subdividing discintermediate the ends thereof, means for admitting water gradually tothe part above said disc to cause said float to sink,and means forpermitting the water to escape gradually from the upper partof saidcylinder to restore the buoyancy of the float.

5. In a flush tank fixture, a tank, a U-shaped outlet pipe having aninlet leg extending to a position adjacent the bottom of the tank andanoutlet leg extending through the bottom of the tank, a pressure mainadapted to supply water to said outlet pipe and tothe tank, a valvearranged to control the water supply,a float arranged to control thevalve, said float comprising an open ended cylinder, a subdividingdiscintermediate the ends thereof, means for admitting water graduallyto the part above said disc to cause said float to sink, and a siphonextending through said disc arranged to withdraw the water graduallyfrom the upper part of said cylinder to= restore the buoyancy of thefloat.

6. In a flush tank fixture, a tank, a U-shaped outlet pipe having aninlet leg extending to a position adjacent thebottom ofthe tank and anoutlet leg extending through the bottom of the tank, a water pressurevalve chamber, a pressure supply main connected therewith, aconduit-between the chamber and said inlet leg, a valve controlling saidconduit, an outlet passage from said chamber to the tank, a valvecontrolling said passage, a main: float connected with said conduitcontrolling valve, means for causing said main float to sink to open itsvalve, an auxiliary float connected with said passage-controlling valvearranged to rise to open its valve as water runs into the tank throughsaid inlet leg and to sink to close its valve when the water reaches apredetermined level in the tan-k.

7. In a flush tank fixture, a tank, a U-shaped outlet pipe having aninlet leg extending to a position adjacent the bottom of the tank and anoutlet pipe extending through the bottom of the tank, a water pressurevalve chamber, a pressure supply main con nected therewith, a conduitbetween the chamber and said inlet leg, a valve controlling saidconduit, an outlet passage from said chamber to the tank, a valvecontrolling said passage, a main float connected with said conduitcontrolling valve, means for causing said main floatto sink to open itsvalve, an auxiliary float connected with said passagecontrolling valvearranged to rise to open its valve as water runs into the tank throughsaid inlet leg and to sink to close its valve when the'water reaches apredetermined level in the tank, each of said floats comprising an openended cylinder,a subdividing disc intermediate the ends thereof, and asiphon through the disc arranged to withdraw water gradually from theupper part of the cylinder.

8. In a flush tan-k fixture, atank, a U-shaped outlet pipe having aninlet leg ex: tending to a position adjacent the bottom of the tank andan outlet leg extending through thebottom of the tank, a water pressurevalve chamber, a pressure supply main connected therewith, a conduitbetween the chamber and said inlet leg,.a valve controlling saidconduit, an outlet passage from said chamber to the tank, a valvecontrolling said passage, a main float connected with said conduitcont-rolling valve, means for causing saidcmain' float to sink to openits valve, an auxiliary float connected' with said passage-controllingvalve are ranged to rise to'open its valve as water runs into the tankthrough said inlet leg and to sink to close its valve when the waterreaches a predetermined level in the tank, each of said floatscomprising an open ended cylinder, a subdividing disc intermediate theends thereof,a siphon through the disc arranged to withdraw watergradually from the upper part of the cylinder, the upper edge of themain float being slightly above the upper water level in the tank whensaid main float is in. its valve closing position, and means forlimiting the uppermost valve opening position of the auxiliary float tokeep its siphon below the upper water level inv the tank.

9. In a flush tank fixture, a tank, a U- shaped outlet pipe having aninlet leg extending to a: position adjacent tht bottom of the tank andanoutlet leg extending throughthe bottom of the tank, a waterpressurevalve chamber, a pressure supply main connected therewith, aconduit between the chamber and said inlet leg,]a valve controlling saidcon duit, an outlet passage from said chamber to the tank, a valvecontrolling said passage, a main float connected with said conduitcontrolling valve, means for causing said main float to. sink to openits valve, an auxiliary float connected with said passage-controllingvalve arranged to rise to open its valve as water runs into the tankthrough said inlet leg and to sink to close its valve'when the waterreaches a predetermined level in the tank,each of said floatscomprisingan openended cylinder, a subdividing disc intermediate the ends thereof,a siphon through the disc arranged to withdraw water gradually from theupper part of the cylinder, the upper edge of the main floatbeing'sli'ghtl'y above the upper water level in the tank when said mainfloat is in its valve closing position,

and adj ustable means for limiting the upper- 3 5 most valve openingposition of the auxiliary float to keep its siphon below the upper waterlevel in the tank. I

10. A float for controllng thevalve of a flush tank fixture comprisingan open ended cylinder, a subdividing disc intermediate the endsthereof, means for permitting water to enter the upper part of saidcylinder to cause the float to sink,-and means'forpermitting the waterto escapefrom said upper part of the cylinder to restore the buoyancyoftl'ie float;

11. A float for controlling the valve of a flush tank fixture comprisingan open ended cylinder, a subdividing disc intermediate the endsthereof, means for perlnitting water to enter slowly the upper part ofsaid cylinder tocausethe float to sink, and means for permi tting thewater to escape slowly from said upperpart of the cylinder to restorethe buoyancy of the float.

12. A float for controlling the valve of a flush tank fixture comprisingan open ended cylinder, a subdividing disc intermediate the endsthereof, means for permitting Water to enter the upper part of saidcylinder slowly,

means controlled by the'water thus entering said upper part of thecylinder, for releasing the air entrapped under said disc, to cause thefloat to sink rapidly, and means for permitting the water to'escapeslowly from said tip per part of the cylinder to restore the buoyancy ofthe float.

13. A float for controlling the valve of aflush tank fixture comprisingan open ended cylinder, a subdividing disc intermediate the endsthereof, means for permitting Water to to enter the upper part of saidcylinder slov ly, a secondary float controlled valve in the upper partof the cylinder controlled by the Water thus entering said upper part ofthe cylinder, for releasing through the disc, the air entrapped in thelower part of the cylinder, to cause the float to sink rapidly, andmeans for permitting the Water to escape slowly from said upper part ofthe cylinder to restore the buoyancy of the float.

ALFRED A. BRIGGS.

